Teeth Whitening
 At Todd L. Jolly, DMD, we have the best dental team ready to whiten your teeth and get rid of any discoloration and other stains. We are dedicated to giving you the most beautiful smile possible.
Unlike other dental procedures, tooth whitening is a recurring process if you want to maintain a bright color. The teeth’s color is a reflection of light off the teeth’s outer layer in conjunction with the dentin’s color. However, the thickness and the smoothness of the enamel will affect the color. Your genes also help determine these properties.
Even the whitest teeth can pick up stains if they aren’t cared for. Other reasons include too much use of tobacco and intake of coffee, red wine, tea, and cola.
Also, aging can also cause darker teeth as the enamel becomes thinner and reveals the darker dentin beneath. Too much exposure to fluoride, especially in children, is also a cause for discoloration since at this age the teeth are still developing.
Unfortunately, such discoloration can be very noticeable and affect an otherwise beautiful smile. In some cases, it can even cause the patient to feel self-conscious and lose confidence. The good news is that the team here are happy to help.
Preparing for Teeth Whitening
Firstly, if you have any cavities, they’ll need to be treated before any activity on teeth whitening. This is because the solution used in whitening will go through the decayed part and get to the inner areas of the tooth, making the solution ineffective.
You can do the whitening at home, but it is best that you come and visit us to ensure it is done properly. For the latter, a photo of your teeth will be taken for a better view of the teeth. Also, expect some questions regarding how the discoloration occurred. Afterward, your teeth will be cleaned to remove food, bacteria, and any other build up in your teeth which may be part of the stain. Next, the whitening process will begin.
Vital Whitening
In this whitening method the gel, which contains a type of hydrogen peroxide, is applied to your tooth’s surface. Before the gel is applied, a different substance will be applied to protect the gums. The gel can be activated using special lights or lasers. After the application, a light will be used to check on the progress, and if the stain is still visible, you may have to continue with the whitening process with more appointments. When visiting our clinic, each appointment should take less than 90 minutes from start to finish.
Non-Vital Whitening
This process is used for teeth with stains coming from the inside. In such a case, the whitening gel will be placed inside the tooth and will be sealed using a temporary sealing for some time. Depending on the difficulty of removing the stain, the whitening process may need to be repeated until the stain disappears.
Schedule Your Appointment
If you are interested in professional teeth whitening call (973) 235-0333 and schedule your appointment today! |
